Car-coupling



(No Model.)

O. S. RIGGS.

GAB. GOUPLING.

No. 247,949. Patented (m. 4,1881.

wlTmassBsi Y INVENTOR: 46 v k .y 5';

W I ATTORNEYS.

i, i i l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I OLIVER S. RIGGS, OF ALLENPOR'I, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,949, dated October 4, 1881.

Application filed July 9, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER S. RIGGS, of Allenport, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupler, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to that class of couplers called self-couplers and it consists of a flaring mouthed draw-head containing a pivoted drop-catch for engaging the coupling-link, held down by rod and sitting and raised by lever, and containing, also, a curved plate rigidly secured in rear of the drop-catch for guid- .ing the coupling-link and holdingdown its engaged end.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the coupler. Fig.2 is a plan of the same on line no ac, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of the couplinglink.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the drawhead, having a flaring mouth, as shown at a, to facilitate the entrance of a coupling-link and the coupling of high with low cars. Transversely through the upper part of said drawhead A is passed a pin or rod, 1), on which is pivoted the swinging elbow-catch B, whose depending end cis narrow enough to enter the coupling-link G, and extends rearward, resting upon the bottom of said draw-head A.

Through a slot, d, in the top of the drawhead A a rod, 0, extends downward and has its lower end secnred'in the prolonged end 0 -of the catch B, and about this rodG is aspiral spring, D, that, pressing between the top of the draw-head A and the catch B, holds the latter down in place.

Pix oted in the top of the draw-head A, on a transverse rod, f, is an elbow-lever, E, in whose horizontal end is a slot, 9, up through which the rod 0 extends, and in which it is held by a pin, h. By means of this lever E the catch B is raised for the uncoupling of the cars, and a rod may be connected with this lever E and extended forward to within reach of the engincer, by means of which he can uncouple at will while the cars are in motion.

Within the draw-head A, in the rear and bottom thereof, is secured a little above the bottom an upward-curving plate, F, that inclines the entering link G downward and holds itdown when entered,asshown,bearingagainst the end of the catch B. .The link G is a flat bar. slotted at each end, as shown at m m, to receive the ends of catches B, and made narrow in the middle to reduce its weight.

With this coupler, which is simple, strong, anddurable,cars can be coupled and uncoupled without going between the cars, and thus the dangers tolife and limb incidentupon the usual method of coupling and uncoupling may be avoided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A car-coupler, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of flaring-mouthed draw-head A, pivoted elbowdrop catch B, rod, spring, and lever O D E, and fixed curved plate F, arranged as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the drop-catch B, of the rod 0 and lever-elbow E, in whose horizontal end is a slot, 9, in which said rod is loosely secured, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby said catch is raised for uncoupling, as set forth.

3. In acar-coupler, the combination, with the drop-catch B, of the curved plate F, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the coupling-link is guided and held down, as set forth.

OLIVER SANSUM RIGGS.

Witnesses:

Gen. 0. MAXWELL, JAS. A. RIGGS. 

